Volunteer Highlight March 2025: Vipasna Nangal

How and why did you first get involved with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC)?

I got involved with the John Humphrey Centre (JHC) to learn more about how human rights processes operate and whether they increase access to justice. I have always enjoyed talking to people and listening to their stories. I felt that JHC would enable me to explore my inquiries while connecting and supporting people through their challenging journeys.

How long have you been a volunteer with JHC?

Approximately 2 years.

Can you describe some of the activities you do as a volunteer?

The breadth of my work involves meeting with community members and translating their stories to critical bodies like the human rights tribunal. I will spend some time parsing through the accounts members articulate. I then arrange these records, descriptions, and accounts to fit the tribunal's language, with the hopes of strengthening the case. Sometimes, greater research is required. This will involve reading up on legislation relevant to the case or skimming case law to better understand the extent of the claim.

What is it like to volunteer with JHC as a whole?

We all have moments in our lives where nihilism assumes our cognition. As a student of politics who will be studying migration for her master's and then pursuing a career in law,  melancholy narratives of injustice are a common encounter. While very little can account for such tragedies, volunteering for initiatives like this makes room for stability in a chaotic world. I experience a sense of agency, as though my day-to-day tasks contribute to forces that challenge revolting forces. 

Are there any learnings or challenges you have experienced through this work that you’d like to share?

I have learned that the work demanded of such roles supersedes bureaucratic procedures. Conducting intakes, listening to people, and asking questions demands the capacity for human connection, which takes time to refine. I have had to learn how to be present, listen intently, and attempt to understand the experiences articulated by community members. These are skills I hope to carry with me, no matter where I end up in life.

Thank you to all our volunteers for everything you to do to support the work of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights!

While we are not actively recruiting volunteers at this time, we work with several wonderful partners and local organizations that we are happy to refer folks to. You can also follow us on social media via our handle @jhcentre or sign up to receive our monthly newsletter to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities in the future.